Politics & Policy

The Minnesota Department of Health had previously not disclosed the number of known cases and deaths at individual facilities, citing patient privacy. But it reversed course Friday after Republican Sen. Karin Housley threatened to subpoena the department for the data.

Senate Republicans have been pushing a bill that would require legislative approval for the spending of federal CARES Act money. Walz opposes that, since the current process allows him to spend the federal dollars as he wishes, with a requirement only that he notify the Legislature.

In a letter to the agency, state Sen. Karin Housley said the Senate’s Family Care and Aging Committee, which Housley chairs, has tried to learn more from the Minnesota Department of Health about the spread of COVID-19 in the state’s long-term care facilities, to little avail.